Discussion Alice in Borderland

I forgot about Gantz. But to a degree. It did end up being aliens though, some big alien invasion at the end.

 

Chapter 3 was good. When Arisu wasn't saying anything about what he got, Shibuki snatched it to see what it was, and that's when they all saw the question being asked. At least, they didn't totally **** them and allowed the answer to round up to the nearest hundred million, but that's not saying too much, as even one million off is a million arrows.

Shibuki tried to roughly deduce it by estimating a population increase of 80m per year, putting her estimate at 6.6-6.8 billion, but she realised that wasn't much help. With the time running out, Karube put his life in Arisu's hands, and told him to decide. This has Arisu despairing and Shibuki disagreeing. Karube doubles down he won't but in, but she's free to discuss it with Arisu.

When Chota questions why Karube is letting Arisu decide over brainstorming, it boils down to an interaction before they became friends during fifth grade. Two other kids asked Karube for help due to Samejima from another class fighting two kids Endo and Arisu. The fight was basically over when they got there, but a detail Arisu noticed was Samejima having a large mole with a hair. He used that to spread some rumor which ended up with the fat kid being teased and crying. So due to Arisu picking up such a detail when other kids would've just cried, he has put his trust in him here to pick up some detail from the game to survive.

Arisu answered 6.8 billion, which was wrong, the correct answer being 6.9 billion, which means the penalty is 100 million flaming arrows being shot over however many days it takes. While they were despairing, Arisu did actually pick up based on the fortunes, that Karube's was the key to living. He picked up that the arrows only come from the unlocky directions, with none being from Karube's big fortune where it said the best direction is South.

They all hauled ass trying to not be hit by the flaming arrows along the way, and they found an old well they thought they could hide in, only for it to be filled in. The top of a hatch to a bunker was uncovered partially by some arrows, which then Karube opened, allowing them to escape the arrows and complete the game. The reward for surviving is a visa.

 

Chapter 4 was good. So the rewards Arisu got was a Visa, as in, immigration certificate. It's valid for a certain time and also has the number of points they earned and have as well as a playing card. The others also got the same, but Shibuki declined hers, indicating she already knew what it says. With them being out of danger, Karube asks Shibuki to give them the rundown on what she knows. She suggested to go to the hospital first to make sure that Chota's wound doesn't get infected, and to look for supplies, but would talk while they walk.

The place is called Borderland, surprise, surprise. Everything Shibuki was telling them was conjecture from other players she'd heard, so nothing was definite. There are many people in Borderland, and they were all found there after seeing the same fireworks display. The games are every evening with the arenas varying from schools to train stations, and everything in between. They heard and explosion while walking and Shibuki explained it was likely a penalty for running overtime in another game, having none of the players survive.

They got to the hospital and Shibuki gave Chota a needle, presumably tetanus or something like that. Karube found some food rations while there too. It seems like this place is hitting Chota the hardest, thinking theorizing they've gone to the future where aliens have taken over. He's despairing.

Arisu stumbles upon some dude that seems to have lost his mind, saying there's no escape even if you survive, so he was leaving the game. Turns out the points on the visas are the number of days they're valid. Upon expiry, the person seems to be zapped and dies by exploding, presumably. I wonder if they are actually being sent back to normal society or if they're fully dead. Either way, it forces people to keep playing the games desperately for survival. Brutal.

 

Chapter 5 was good. It gave us a little glimpse into Shibuki's past. She, like Arisu, was pretty miserable with her life. She was belittled and verbally torn down at work, and just felt like she wasn't doing anything in life.

We also had a glimpse of Chota's past, where he wasn't as happy as he seemed. His parents were in debt, and he thought he would constantly bow down to people, because he was his father's son. Seems a bit meh, for a backstory to be depressed about life.

Even Karube wasn't entirely happy. His mother seemed like a sex worker, and some shady almost homeless looking guy came around looking for her to spend money he wont at the track. He told him to get loss, and he made a comment about the attitude being unsurprising from a fatherless bastard, which had him snap and beat the shit out of him. Karube wanted to keep "sharpening" himself, but felt he would be like an "over-sharpened pencil" before long.

Arisu's "sad" backstory is basically his brother did well academically and was the pride of the family, while he didn't do well, so he was kind of a shame/embarrassment. When entertaining gests, his farther didn't want him around them, but in his room.

So I suppose, the people being teleported here basically are all depressed or have some form of problem with society and feel that their life is pointless and they're fed up. I wonder if this will end up just being some simulation thing, or something where they end up back in the normal world and are "rehabilitated" or see the good in life.

Meanwhile, Karube kept fishing with Shibuki keeping him company, only for him to catch a bike seat... twice. LMAO. Well, at least the moment gave them some relief and something to laugh about. They all are having a good time together fishing and swimming despite the circumstances. Seems like Arisu thinks they might be being tested, or to have a new beginning. In the end, enough fish were caught for dinner.

During dinner, Karube discusses what they've learnt so far regarding Borderland, and suggests that they immediately participate in another game that same evening, while leaving Chota to heal. His reasoning is to maintain their resolve to so they don't get dulled and can continue using the same survival instincts to continue surviving. Pretty reasonable take, he basically wants to continue improving at the games to increase their survivability where possible instead of taking "off" days and getting dull.

Shibuki resolves to stay with Chota so he's not alone. They also resolve to play with Chota again when his Visa is expiring in two days, so he's had time to heal. Karube and Arisu embark to the game by themselves, with Shibuki and Chota staying close by. There's a lot of participants, and the premise of the game is that tag with a serial killer on the loose, and they have to return home. He's wielding a gun too.

 

Idk, that chapter would've been back in 2010, so maybe it's just refencing some data from back then, or maybe the author just made it up lol.

Yeah, makes you wonder if every "game" has hints in it, or if only some do. Also, it's understandable to not pick those things up during life and death scenarios, especially with a timer ticking down.

LMAO legit, seems entirely irrelevant to what they're going through, but I think the point was meant to be that he notices minute seemingly irrelevant details when others wouldn't during an intense situation.

 

Yup, forced to play or death, seemingly. Brutal. As seen, people must just lose their minds with the constant life or death battles, not to mention seeing others around them dying too. The whole laser beam through the head, seems very far fetched to me, so I really don't know if this is genuinely the real reality for them. Half expect their "death" to have them wake up in the original world, but time will tell.

It's already implied that Shibuki knows and told the others, hence explaining the passports showing the days they have there, and that they're forced to participate. If she didn't know, that detail wouldn't make any sense.

Seems like she was just going to say that she's weak, but we'll see.

 

Isn't that also just as far-fetched? I mean 100m arrows is a ******* lot. Plus, the accuracy. That's a good point, the bunker.

I can't say I have sympathy for the bully being bullied, but they are kids being kids. It does show if nothing else that he has the mind set for a live or die world.

 

What could possibly go wrong? LMAO. Not like they have a choice I guess, well, they do for 3 days.

I'm leaning towards it not being a real reality but maybe that's not true at all. Will be interesting to see.

Wonder if we'll find out soon, or just at the end?

 

Chapter 6 was good. So they have running water and electricity in this arena, to lure in new "players". Diabolical. Arisu at first had some thought to try and help the obviously newcomers like Shibuki did for them, but decided they wouldn't believe anything and it was best to not bother. A bit hypocritical considering Shibuki helped them and she was in the exact same boat, but I suppose she was alone and didn't really have much chance alone. Seems like Arisu is even preparing himself to cut ties with his group if need be. Fucked up if true.

Some sketchy looking guy, Nitobe approaches them too, seemingly agreeing with their dismay at the new players. He also drew attention to some guy just charging his phone calmly, I suppose trying to paint him as the killer. Makes me wonder if it's not Nitobe.

It's announced that there are unlimited participants and no prizes. This game is also Five of Spades tier. Nitobe also points out another participant who seems to not be a new player: a girl changing into more appropriate running gear. Also kind of suspicious Nitobe decides to give some information over to Arisu and Karube, but maybe he is like Shibuki, and giving them what he knows in hopes of increasing his own survival rate by working together. Or it could just be the author providing information to the readers in a round-about way. At least we now know more about how the games work from the card. The difficulty is based on the number of the card. Spades are athletic games. Diamonds are brain games such as knowledge/problem solving. Clubs are all-rounder tests good for teaming up. Hearts are apparently the cruellest of all games. No further elaboration given, but I assume they're designed to pit the players against each other.

For this game, someone amongst them is designated "It" and will chase the others through the apartment, while those not It will try to avoid being caught. Players need to get inside the single unlocked apartment and touch the base inside within the allocated 30 minutes. The game is over if all players are killed or if time runs out. They've rigged the complex with a bomb that will kill everyone if the timer runs out. The exits have also been rigged with land mines.

On that note, there weren't landmines for the players to enter the area. They've since been planted already. I don't see how it's possible for them to make shit like that appear, taking into account they'll have to magically vanish when the game is over so the people can leave. Either shit is some alien tech, or it's not really in the original reality.

Probably not the time for the players to start talking about some urban legend about a serial killer living there, whom went crazy and killed 10-20 people.

They've been scammed. Starting no with 11 players, but they have 27 mins left only. As I suspected, it seems like most of the players are splitting up, so these games are designed to pit players against each other. Nitobe has also teamed up with Arisu and Karube.

It looks like the person that was charging their phone is a killer, but isn't the serial killer of the game, and views himself intellectually superior.

Ok, so the serial killer isn't any of the people we saw, and is confirmed as the masked person with the gun. I thought that may have just been showing them at one point. At least two have already been gunned down. Arisu, Karube and Nitobe start to run down the stairs, before Arisu asks for the others to follow him. Nitobe keeps running, but Arisu pulls Karube and they hide behind the wall holding their breath. Arisu realised, if they get stuck running down in front of the killer, their backs will be open, and they'll be stuck just running down, getting further away from the goal. They begin to run up the stairs to get as high as possible. 22 minutes remain with 3 players dead, leaving 8.